Profiles Theatre continues 26th Season
with the World Premiere of
Genius by Kate Walbert
Directed by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox
Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we're excited to see Profiles Theatre continue its 26th Season with the World premiere of Genius by Kate Walbert, directed by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. With a fairly misogynistic streak in their past, it's a welcome change to see Profiles giving strong female characters and award winning women authors a voice! The production runs March 13 – May 3, 2015 at Profiles Theatre’s The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway.
Genius examines the secrets and alliances of two creative couples from different generations who find their lives changed forever after an uneasy dinner party. Joel, a once highly regarded painter turned museum director caught in the midst of a very public indiscretion and his wife Sara, a formally famous journalist, venture to Brooklyn for dinner with their new friends Peter and Chelsea, a young filmmaking couple with rising careers and a baby on the way. After an evening riddled with illuminating discoveries, deceptions and perhaps too much wine, each couple deconstructs the evening’s events as they grapple with their own uncertain futures. Using a constantly shifting timeline, playwright Kate Walbert turns her kaleidoscopic lens on two marriages battered by urgent ambitions.
Kate Walbert, an award-winning novelist and playwright, is the author of A Short History of Women, chosen by The New York Times Book Review as one of the ten best books of 2009 and a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize. Other works include Our Kind, a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction in 2004, The Gardens of Kyoto, winner of the 2002 Connecticut Book Award in Fiction, and Where She Went, a collection of linked stories and a New York Times notable book. Her plays include an adapted version of A Short History of Women with readings at the Powerhouse Theater and the Roundabout Theater, Elsewhere, featured in readings at Playwrights Horizons and Ars Nova in New York as well as Year of the Woman, produced at the Yale Cabaret and the Lantern Theater in Philadelphia.
Directed by Profiles Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox, the cast of Genius features guest artist Robert Breuler as Joel. Robert, most recently seen in Airline Highway at Steppenwolf, previously appeared at Profiles in their Midwest premiere of Sweet and Sad. Also featured are guest artists Stephanie Chavara, Cale Haupert and Liz Zweifler.
“Taking classes with the great Frank Galati as an undergraduate at Northwestern, I fell in love with Chicago theatre,” say playwright Kate Walbert. “At the time, every other dusty storefront seemed to be masking a production of something, each one more creative, more inventive, more thrilling than the next. I remember rickety backstairs leading to a makeshift stage where I watched, transfixed, Krapp’s Last Tape performed in candlelight, then stumbled out afterward to a snowy, Chicago night. So what a thrill to collaborate with the venerable Chicago company Profiles on Genius — and to be the beneficiary of the group’s amazing talent, risk-taking, and commitment to keeping that Chicago theatrical spirit alive and supporting new playwrights. I am so thankful for their belief in the play, and for their inspiration.”
The designers for Genuis are Michelle Lilly (set), Mike Durst (lights), Jeffrey Levin (sound and original music), Raquel Adorno (costumes). The stage manger is Jennifer Kiehl.
Profiles’ sixth and final show of the season, Our New Girl by Nancy Harris, opens at Profiles’ Main Stage on May 14, 2015. The titles for Profiles’ 2015-16 season will be announced soon.
Tickets for Genius are $35 for Thursdays, $40 for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available by phone, (773) 549-1815, or online, www.profilestheatre.org. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 and 8:00 pm, Sundays at 7:00 p.m.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
KATE WALBERT (Playwright) is an award-winning novelist and playwright and the author of A Short History of Women, chosen by The New York Times Book Review as one of the ten best books of 2009 and a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize. Other works include Our Kind, a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction in 2004, The Gardens of Kyoto, winner of the 2002 Connecticut Book Award in Fiction, and Where She Went, a collection of linked stories and a New York Times notable book. Her plays include an adapted version of A Short History of Women with readings at the Powerhouse Theater and the Roundabout Theater, Elsewhere, featured in readings at Playwrights Horizons and Ars Nova in New York as well as Year of the Woman, produced at the Yale Cabaret and the Lantern Theater in Philadelphia.
DARRELL W. COX (Director) is an Artistic Director of Profiles Theatre and most recently directed the Midwest premieres of Reasons to Be Happy by Neil LaBute and Cock by Mike Barlett as well as both the 2013 holiday season revival and 20th Anniversary production of Hellcab by Will Kern. Prior to that, he directed the Midwest premiere of Bachelorette by Leslye Headland, the American premiere of The Wonderful World of Dissocia by Anthony Neilson, Profiles’ Midwest premieres of This is How it Goes, “Coax” and the titular piece from Things We Said Today and Profiles’ long running hit, Autobahn, all by Neil LaBute. Mr. Cox has directed numerous productions for Profiles over the years including the Midwest premieres of The Radiant Abyss by Angus MacLachlan and Wonder of the World by David Lindsay-Abaire. Other directorial credits for Profiles include The Water Engine, How the Other Half Loves and The Twilight Zone: The Series.
ROBERT BREULER (Joel) was last seen at Profiles in their Midwest premiere of Sweet and Sad. He is celebrating his 44th year as a member of Actors Equity Association. From his first role at Joe Papp’s New York Public Theatre where he played Kress in David Rabe’s The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel to Airline Highway at Steppenwolf, he has played over one hundred roles, including Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof twice (at Steppenwolf and The Apple Tree), Moe in Riverview and Dean Strauss in Spinning Into Butter at Goodman. Bob is a member of the Steppenwolf acting ensemble where he performed in some 40 roles over 28 years. Some favorites include Botwinnic in A Walk in the Woods, Father Lux in Our Lady of 121st Street, Pa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Charlie “Blackie” Blackwell in Killers, The Wheel, The Cherry Orchard, A Lesson Before Dying, The Time of Your Life, Mother Courage and Her Children, Uncle Vanya, The Infidel and Molly Sweeney. On Broadway, he appeared in The Grapes of Wrath, The Song of Jacob Zulu, Carousel and Death of a Salesman. One of his favorite roles was The Devil in the live broadcast of Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra on public radio. His television credits include Chicago Fire, Prison Break, Early Edition, NYPD Blue, Angel Street and The Untouchables. Robert’s film credits include The Crucible, Trial By Jury, The Company, Love and Action in Chicago, Miles From Home, A Piece of Eden, Ray Bradbury’s Small Assassin and Lac de Flambeau. He is a recipient of the William and Eva Fox Fellowship Grant. Bob and his wife Suzanne Petri have formed a not-for-profit organization called Suzbo Entertainment where they produced the original musical DUO at Steppenwolf and other locales as well as A Little Touch of Coward in the Night at the Metropolitan Room in NYC.
STEPHANIE CHAVARA (Charlotte) is making her Profiles Theatre debut. Her Chicago credits include Charles Ives Take Me Home at Strawdog Theatre Company, Brighton Beach Memoirs at Fox Valley Rep, If You Split a Second at Pegasus Players, Motion at Signal Ensemble, Mourning Becomes Electra at Remy Bumppo, And a Child Shall Lead at Adventure Stage, as well as work at The Goodman, TimeLine, Dog + Pony and Collaboraction. Stephanie is a company member with 2nd Story where she writes, directs, and teaches. She has worked abroad with the Rhodopi International Theatre Laboratory in Bulgaria. Stephanie holds an MFA from The Theatre School at DePaul.
CALE HAUPERT (Peter) Cale Haupert returns to Profiles Theatre for the World premiere of Genius after understudying the role of Greg in their production of reasons to be pretty. He most recently appeared in A Streetcar Named Desire with Pulse Theatre Company. Cale’s other regional credits include Frank Galati’s Philadelphia Here I Come and The Grapes of Wrath, both with the Asolo Rep, Twelfth Night and Stop Kiss at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory, Hamlet, Richard III and Merry Wives of Windsor with Shakespeare Festival St. Louis aa well as Amadeus and Diary of Anne Frank with the St. Louis Rep. He is a recent graduate of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory where he earned is MFA last spring.
LIZ ZWEIFLER (Sara) is making her Profiles Theatre debut. She most recently appeared in The Quality Of Life at The Den Theatre (Jeff Nomination for Best Actress). Her other Chicago credits include Sirens at Fox Valley Rep, Bus Stop at The Den Theatre, Little Women at The Bog Theatre and Fool for Love at Aspect Theatre. She has voiced many national and regional commercials and is an ensemble member of The Den Theatre. Liz is represented by Stewart Talent.
Dates:
Regular Run: March 19 – May 3, 2015
Schedule: Thurs., Fri.: 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 pm
Sunday: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Profiles Theatre, The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway
Parking is available for $14 - $16 at 4100 N. Clarendon
(One block east of the theatre at the corner of Clarendon and Belle Plaine)
Ticket prices: Previews: $20
Regular Run: Thursdays are $35, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are $40; Students and Senior Citizens receive a $5 discount on all performances; Group rates are available.
Box Office: Buy online at www.profilestheatre.org
or call (773) 549-1815
ABOUT PROFILES THEATRE
Profiles Theatre, founded in 1988 by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, joined shortly thereafter by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox, was formed as an actor-driven theatre ensemble dedicated to creating provocative and emotionally truthful productions. Passionate about shaping an original vision for new works, they focused on performing World, American and Midwest premieres as well as rarely performed plays. Critically acclaimed hits, such as BLACKBIRD, FAT PIG, GRACELAND and the multiple Jeff Award-winning KILLER JOE, established Profiles as a destination for challenging and edgy theatre. Their unique collaboration with playwright Neil LaBute led the ensemble to perform an entire season of his plays in 2007-2008. Now a Resident Artist at Profiles, LaBute remains an unequivocal artistic influence on the ensemble.
After performing at 4147 North Broadway for more than two decades, Profiles acquired an adjacent theatre at 4139 North Broadway in 2012. Profiles’ new theatre, The Main Stage, with its larger seating capacity, increased performance space and higher ceilings, accommodates more ambitious and technically demanding productions. Their long-time venue, renamed The Alley Stage, continues as the home for plays strengthened by a more intimate staging. Driven by an undiminished appetite for creating honest and resonant theatre, Profiles still seeks to present work that illuminates the determination and resiliency of the human spirit.
After performing at 4147 North Broadway for more than two decades, Profiles acquired an adjacent theatre at 4139 North Broadway in 2012. Profiles’ new theatre, The Main Stage, with its larger seating capacity, increased performance space and higher ceilings, accommodates more ambitious and technically demanding productions. Their long-time venue, renamed The Alley Stage, continues as the home for plays strengthened by a more intimate staging. Driven by an undiminished appetite for creating honest and resonant theatre, Profiles still seeks to present work that illuminates the determination and resiliency of the human spirit.
Also Playing Profiles: The Other Place
ChiIL Live Shows #ChiILPicksList
Highly Recommended
Profiles Theatre continues its 26th Season with the Chicago premiere of The Other Place by Sharr White, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. The production runs through April 5, 2015 at Profiles Theatre’s The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway.
Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we had the pleasure of catching opening night of The Other Place. Despite a similar feel to Still Alice, The Other Place is a unique and compelling piece. Lia D. Mortensen was nothing short of astonishing in her transformation, as Julianna both dissolves and evolves throughout the piece. The plot twists will blindside the audience and the entire cast does an excellent job of bringing the story to fruition and evoking compassion for these archetypes.
In Sharr White’s acclaimed new drama The Other Place, Juliana Smithton, a successful neurologist, finds her life coming apart at the seams. Her husband filed for divorce, her daughter eloped with a much older man and her own health hangs in jeopardy. But in this brilliantly crafted work, nothing is as it seems. Piece by piece, a mystery unfolds as fact blurs with fiction, past collides with present and the elusive truth about Juliana boils to the surface.
The Other Place received its world premiere Off-Broadway at MCC Theater in 2011. The production, starring Laurie Metcalf, was nominated for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play from the Outer Critics Circle Awards. It later premiered on Broadway in a production by Manhattan Theatre Club in 2013, also starring Metcalf, who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. The Other Place won the 2010 Playwrights First Award and the 2011 Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation’s Theatre Visions Fund Award. White’s plays have been developed or produced at theatres across the country, including South Coast Repertory, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Marin Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater’s Directors Lab and Key West Theatre Festival.
"I'm thrilled to have my play The Other Place in Chicago, and with Profiles Theatre,” says playwrightSharr White. “The Other Place is about the smartest woman in the world who discovers nothing she knows is true. It takes both technical skill and emotional depth to pull off and I'm excited the artists at Profiles are taking it on just one season after producing my play Annapurna.”
Directed by Profiles Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, the cast of The Other Place features guest artist Lia D. Mortensen as Julianna. Lia was most recently seen in Pericles with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and was seen last season at Profiles in their Midwest premiere of Annapurna. Also featured are guest artists George Infantado, Matt Maxwell, Nina O’Keefe, Steve Silver and Autumn Teague.
For more information about Profiles Theatre, visit www.profilestheatre.org.
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